Personal cooling device

ABSTRACT

A personal cooling device for reducing the temperature within an area immediately surrounding a person. The personal cooling device includes at least one heat exchanger that is connected to a supply of water within a home or building. When desired, the water supply flows through the heat exchanger to cool an airflow passing over the heat exchanger. The cooled airflow is directed into the personal space to cool the air within the personal space. The airflow that passes over the heat exchanger is created by a fan assembly that is selectively activated by the user to create the cooled airflow into the personal space. The personal cooling device thus relies upon the water supply within the home or building to cool an airflow.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/244,195, filed on Sep. 21,2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a personal cooling device.More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a personal coolingdevice that can be utilized to cool air around an individual in a heatedenvironment, such as a bathroom or a changing room.

Although a home may be air conditioned, when an occupant uses heatingelements in small, enclosed spaces, such as the use of a hair dryer in abathroom, the temperature within the enclosed space may exceed thedesired temperature at which the remainder of the home is beingmaintained. As an example, when a hair dryer is used in a bathroom or achanging room, the temperature in the bathroom may rise 10° above thetemperature (such as) 75°) in the remainder of the house. Since theremainder of the home remains at the desired temperature, the home airconditioning unit will not respond to the increase in temperature withinthe enclosed space. Therefore, a need exists for a system thatneutralizes the heat created while using heat-producing home applianceswithin an enclosed environment, such as the bathroom or changing room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a small, built-in personalcooling device that is particularly effective in bathrooms and dressingareas to neutralize the heat that builds up while using heat-producinghair appliances and after showering. The second function of the personalcooling device is to disburse unhealthy vapors that result from the userof aerosol and pump spray hair styling products.

The personal air cooling device functions by blowing ambient air from aremote location via a fan through a filter and radiator that includesone or more a heat exchangers. Activation of the fan energizes asolenoid valve that allows water at a temperature of about 55-60° F. toflow through the one or more heat exchangers in the radiator. Therelatively cool water in the heat exchanger cools the ambient airpassing over the heat exchanger to approximately 70° F. Cooled air isthen delivered through one or more ducts to adjustable, louvered ventsin the vanity of the bathroom or dressing area. Since the heated waterfrom the radiator does not contact the ambient air, the heated water canbe discharged to drain in the home.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carryingout the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing the use a cooling deviceconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 is a magnified view of the personal cooling device constructed inaccordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the personal cooling device 10 of the presentdisclosure. The personal cooling device 10 directs a supply of cooledair onto an occupant that is located within an enclosed space, such asthe changing room 12 shown in FIG. 1. The changing room 12 is shownincluding a vanity 14, a chair 16 and a mirror 18. The changing room 12could a bathroom or any other area where a person may use aheat-producing appliance, such as a hair dryer or curling iron. Sincethe changing room 12 is typically small and enclosed, heat quicklybuilds up during use of the heat-producing appliance.

In accordance with the present disclosure, when the temperature withinthe changing room 12 exceeds a comfortable level, the occupant candepress an activation switch 20 that turns on the personal coolingdevice 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the personal coolingdevice 10 is mounted below the floor 22, such as in the basement area24. However, it is contemplated that the personal cooling device 10could be located at other locations, such as behind a wall of thechanging room 12.

When the activation switch 20 is depressed, the personal cooling device10 is activated. When the personal cooling device 10 is activated,ambient air from room 26 is drawn into the personal cooling device 10.The ambient air from room 26 is cooled and directed from the personalcooling device 10 to a pair of vents 28 located within the changing room12. The vents 28 each receive the cooled air from the personal coolingdevice 10 through one of a pair of ducts 30. It is contemplated that thevents 28 could each be louvered and adjustable to direct the flow ofcooled air from each of the ducts 30. Since the personal cooling device10 receives inlet air from the room 26, the personal cooling device 10reduces the temperature of the already-cooled air within room 26 of thehome and supplies the cooled air to the vents 28 within the changingroom 12. In this manner, the personal cooling device 10 reduces thetemperature of the air within the home and directs the cooled airdirectly at the user when the user is in the changing room 12.

Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes an activation switch 20that can be depressed by the user to begin operation of the personalcooling device 10, it is contemplated that the activation switch 20could be replaced with an automatic sensing circuit. In such anembodiment, the automatic sensing circuit would detect an elevation inthe temperature within the changing room 12 and automatically activatethe personal cooling device 10 to maintain the temperature within thechanging room 12 at or near the temperature that is present within thechanging room prior to use of the heat-producing appliance. In such anembodiment, the sensing circuit could either monitor for a change intemperature over a period of time or monitor whether the temperatureexceeds a temperature setpoint. When the activations parameters weremet, the sensing circuit will then automatically operate the personalcooling device 10. In such an embodiment, the user could also stillmanually activate the personal cooling device when desired.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a pair of vents 28 and a pair ofducts 30 are shown. However, it is contemplated that only a single vent28 and a single duct 30 could be utilized while operating within thescope of the present disclosure. Further, the position of the vent 28can be modified depending upon the specific configuration for the room.

FIG. 2 illustrates the operational details of the personal coolingdevice 10 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. Thepersonal cooling device 10 includes a radiator 32. In the illustratedembodiment, the radiator 32 includes a pair of heat exchangers 34 a and34 b that each includes a series of fins 35 to enhance heat transfer.Although heat exchangers 34 a and 34 b are shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 2, it should be understood that the radiator 32 could utilizevarious other similar devices that function to reduce the temperature ofair passing through the radiator 32. As an example, the heat exchangerscould be replaced with tubing that winds through the radiator 32 toremove heat from air within the enclosed radiator 32.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first heat exchange 34 a receivesa supply of water from an inlet pipe 36. Preferably, the supply of wateris an available water supply in the home of the occupant. Typically, thesupply of water within the home has an ambient temperature of between55-60°. The water supply flows into the heat exchanger 34 a from theinlet pipe 36, as shown by arrow 38. After the water passes through thefirst heat exchanger 34 a, a connecting pipe 37 directs the water flowthrough the second heat exchanger 34 b for further cooling of airpassing through the radiator 32. The flow of water ultimately leaves theradiator 32 through an outlet pipe 40. The outlet pipe 40 directs thewater to a drain contained within the home.

When the user depresses the activation switch 20, the activation switchopens a solenoid control valve 42. Since the water supply in the home ispressurized, when the solenoid valve 42 opens, water flows through thepair of heat exchangers 34 a and 34 b. Additionally, when the activationswitch 20 is depressed, electric power is supplied to the motor 44 ofthe fan assembly 46. The electric motor 44 rotates a fan blade 48 whichcreates a flow of air over the heat exchangers 34, as illustrated byarrows 50. Since the radiator 32 and fan assembly 46 are closed to theoutside, the rotation of the fan blade causes air to flow out of theenclosed housing 39 through the ducts 30. The outflow of air causesadditional air to be drawn into the open interior 52 of the radiator 32through a vent 54, as illustrated by arrows 56. The flow of air throughthe vent 54 passes through an air filter 58 which removes particles anddust from the air within room 26 (see FIG. 1) while also preventing abackflow of air from the open interior 52.

As air is drawn into the open interior 52 from the vent 54, the airpasses over the pair of heat exchangers 34 a and 34 b. Since thetemperature of water within the heat exchangers 34 a and 34 b is belowthe temperature of the air entering the open interior 52, the airtemperature is reduced by the heat exchanger. As an example, if thewater supply entering through the inlet pipe 36 has a temperature of 55to 60° and the ambient air temperature is 75°, the air passing throughthe open interior 52 can be cooled between 5-10° below ambient.

The cooled air, after passing over the exchangers 34 a and 34 b, exitsthe radiator housing through one of two ducts 30. In the embodimentshown, each of the ducts 30 are formed from PVC pipes, although othermaterials are contemplated as being within the scope of the presentdisclosure. The air leaving the open interior 52 of the radiator 32, asshown by arrows 60, travels through the ducts 30 and is dischargedthrough one of the two vents 28. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vents 28are positioned near the vanity 14 and can be adjusted to direct air ontothe user.

As described previously, the personal cooling device 10 operates to coolthe temperature of ambient air before the air is directed at the userthrough one of the two vents 28. In this manner, the personal coolingdevice 10 cools ambient air and directs the cooled air at the user in anon demand basis.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the personal cooling device 10 drawsair into the radiator 32 from a room 26 different from the changing room12. It is contemplated that drawing air from the room 26 will allow acooler supply of air to pass over the heat exchangers contained withinthe radiator 32, which will result in a cooler supply of air directedinto the changing room 12 through the vents 28. However, air could bedrawn directly from the changing room 12 and cooled within the radiator32 before being reintroduced into the changing room 12. In such anembodiment, it is anticipated that the temperature of the air fromwithin the changing room 12 will be higher than the air within room 26and thus would not result in as cool of an airflow through the vents 28.However, such an embodiment is contemplated as being within the subjectmatter of the present disclosure.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the inventionis defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do notdiffer from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral languages of the claims.

1. A system for cooling a personal space within a building having awater supply, comprising: at least one heat exchanger having an inletconnected to the water supply such that the water supply flows throughthe heat exchanger; a fan assembly operable to create an airflow thatpasses over the heat exchanger; at least one duct positioned to receivethe airflow after the airflow passes over the heat exchanger, whereinthe duct directs the airflow toward the personal space; and a ventpositioned in the personal space to distribute the airflow into thepersonal space.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a controlvalve positioned between the water supply and the heat exchanger; and anactivation switch in communication with the control valve and the fanassembly, wherein the control valve is moved to an open position and thefan assembly is activated upon actuation of the activation switch. 3.The system of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger is contained within anenclosed housing having an inlet vent, wherein upon activation of thefan assembly, the airflow is drawn into the enclosed housing through theinlet vent.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the inlet vent is locatedin a room separate from the personal space.
 5. The system of claim 4wherein the inlet vent includes an air filter.
 6. The system of claim 1wherein an outlet of the heat exchanger is connected to a drain in thebuilding.
 7. The system of claim 3 wherein the temperature of the watersupply is below the temperature of the airflow drawn through the inletvent.
 8. A system for cooling a personal space within a building havinga water supply, comprising: at least one heat exchanger having an inletconnected to the water supply; a control valve positioned between thewater supply and the heat exchanger, wherein when the control valve isin the open position, the water supply flows through the heat exchange;a fan assembly operable to create an airflow that passes over the heatexchanger; at least one duct positioned to receive the airflow after theairflow passes over the heat exchanger and to direct the airflow towardthe personal space; a vent positioned in the personal space todistribute the airflow into the personal space; and an activation switchoperable to open the control valve and activate the fan assembly.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8 wherein the heat exchanger is contained within anenclosed housing having an inlet vent, wherein upon activation of thefan assembly the airflow is drawn into the enclosed housing through theinlet vent.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the inlet vent is locatedin a room separate from the personal space.
 11. The system of claim 10wherein the inlet vent includes an air filter.
 12. The system of claim 8wherein an outlet of the heat exchanger is connected to a drain in thebuilding.
 13. The system of claim 8 wherein the temperature of the watersupply is below the temperature of the airflow drawn through the inletvent.
 14. A method of cooling a personal space within a building havinga water supply, comprising the steps of: connecting at least one heatexchanger to the water supply; opening a control valve to allow thewater supply to flow through the heat exchanger upon activation of aswitch; activating a fan assembly to create an airflow that passes overthe heat exchanger upon activation of the switch; directing the airflowinto at least one duct that extends to the personal space; anddistributing the airflow into the personal space through at least onevent.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the heat exchanger is containedwithin an enclosed housing, wherein the at least one duct extends fromthe enclosed housing to the personal space.
 16. The method of claim 15wherein the activation of the fan assembly draws the airflow through aninlet vent contained within the enclosed housing.
 17. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the inlet vent is located in a room separate from thepersonal space.
 18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the stepsof: cooling the airflow as the airflow passes over the heat exchanger;and discharging the water supply from the heat exchanger to a drainwithin the building.
 19. The method of claim 14 wherein the water supplywithin the building is pressurized.
 20. The method of claim 14 whereinthe temperature of the water supply is below the temperature of theairflow created by the fan assembly.